Novant Health Recognized Nationally for Diversity Programs
Novant Health has been named one of the 2014 Top 10 Hospitals and Health Systems in the nation by DiversityInc, the
country’s leading source for advancing and recognizing excellence in diversity management. Novant Health debuts on this
year’s list at No. 3, joining some of the country’s most prestigious healthcare systems including Cleveland Clinic (5th)
and Mayo Clinic (8th).
A total of 1,215 companies participated in the 2014 survey in 12 categories. Each organization completed the
300-question survey, divided into four equally weighted areas:
• Talent pipeline: workforce breakdown, recruitment, diameter of existing talent, structures
• Equitable talent development: employee resource groups, mentoring, philanthropy, movement, fairness
• CEO/leadership commitment: accountability for results, personal communications, visibility
• Supplier diversity: amount spent with companies owned by people from underrepresented groups, accountability, support
The survey, now in its 15th year, leads to a detailed, empirically driven ranking.
Diversity initiatives at Novant Health are driven through the Executive Diversity Council chaired by Carl S. Armato,
president and CEO, and a System Diversity Council chaired by Deborah P. Ashton, PhD, vice president and chief diversity
officer. Armato meets regularly with seven business resource groups, which focus on community involvement, human
resources and marketing. The groups address health disparities and support the health system’s concentration on
community wellness to promote better patient outcomes.
“This honor recognizes the exceptional work being accomplished across Novant Health,” Armato said. “As a core value,
diversity permeates our organization. Its influence is felt in the very fiber of who we are and why we exist.”
“At Novant Health, there is a strong focus on health equity and ensuring that patients, families, communities, employees
and stakeholders are respected and heard,” said Ashton. “Diversity is owned from the executive team through each
employee to ensure that our patients’ healthcare experience is remarkable.”
The seven business resource groups, each comprised of employees and an executive sponsor, are African American,
Hispanic, Women, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender, Asian, Generational and Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities.
Each group focuses on addressing the unique needs of their population segment in regard to patient care, attracting and
retaining employees from that segment, community health and outreach, identification and use of businesses from that
segment, and creating a welcoming environment that supports diversity and inclusion of people from various backgrounds.
The rankings are determined by an objective methodology as listed above. The empirical data for the rankings is provided
by a 300-question survey filled out by personnel at the participating companies. Survey participation is free to any
company with at least 1,000 U.S. workers.
About Novant Health
Novant Health is a four-state integrated network of physician clinics, outpatient centers and hospitals that delivers a
seamless and convenient healthcare experience to our communities. The Novant Health network consists of more than 1,200
physicians and 26,000 employees who make healthcare remarkable at nearly 500 locations, including 15 medical centers and
hundreds of outpatient facilities and physician clinics. Headquartered in Winston-Salem, N.C., Novant Health is
committed to making healthcare remarkable for our patients and our communities, serving more than four million patients
annually. In 2013, Novant Health provided more than $566 million in community benefit including charity care and
services. Novant Health is one of the top 25 integrated health systems in the United States and was named a top 50 “Best
Places for Diverse & Women Managers to Work” by Diversity MBA Magazine.
For more information, please visit our website at NovantHealth.org. More information about our Diversity programs can be
found on the website. You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
About DiversityInc
DiversityInc’s mission is to bring education and clarity to the business benefits of diversity. The DiversityInc Top 50
Companies for Diversity list began in 2001, at the same time many corporations were beginning to understand the business
value of diversity-management initiatives. The 2014 Top 50 Companies for Diversity results are featured on
DiversityInc.com and in DiversityInc magazine. For more information, log on to www.diversityinc.com.
ENDS